NSCI member gets show-cause notice over FB comment

NSCI asks dentist why he should not be suspended for post that raised questions about elite club's functioning

NSCI asks dentist why he should not be suspended for post that raised questions about elite club's functioning

A dentist from south Mumbai has been served a show-cause notice for a casual Facebook comment regarding certain discrepancies in the functioning of the National Sports Club of India (NSCI) in Mahalaxmi, of which he is a member.

Dr Shyam Nichani, a member of the NSCI, had commented on Facebook on August 24, about several irregularities at the club

After his post on the social networking site, NSCI authorities issued him a letter asking him why he should not be suspended from the club.

Another club member, who responded to the comment and supported it, received a similar letter from the NSCI authorities.

On August 24, Dr Shyam Nichani, a resident of south Mumbai, commented on Facebook about several irregularities at the club, using his personal account to put up the post.

In response to Nichani's post, club member Sadanand Shinde put up a similar comment.

Both Nichani and Shinde passed remarks on the functioning of the club and how the management was responsible for the current state of affairs.

Following the posts by the two, the NSCI issued both of them a letter, which is dated September 20 (copy available with MiD DAY) and seeks an explanation from them on why they should not be suspended.

MiD DAY spoke to some other members of the NSCI, and even they had complaints similar to Nichani and Shinde's against the club.

The members, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, alleged that the management had never held an annual general body (AGB) meeting so far.

They said every time the management decided on the date and venue, the meeting would be called off over some reason or the other.

NSCI members said another important issue was that the management had allegedly never made available the accounts of the club to its members.

NSCI has more than 19,000 members in the city. Its membership fee is Rs 10 lakh and there is 10.2 per cent service tax.

Several club members expressed shock at the way Nichani was being treated after his Facebook comment.

"It is very shocking that Dr Nichani raised questions about the AGB meeting, accounts irregularities and frustration among members and was 'honoured' with a suspension notice," said a member, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Nichani refused to comment on the matter.

"This is our internal matter. I have given my reply to the management. I have also deleted my Facebook account," Nichani said.

This is not the first time there has been a controversy at the NSCI. In the past, a petition was filed before the high court about the stadium project of the club.

The petitioner had raised questions about the indoor stadium project, ranging from violations of the BMC lease agreement to possible Coastal Regulation Zone II violations.

The other sideJAI Singh Choradia, secretary, NSCI, said: "Personal matters should not appear on public sites. He (Nichani) has made allegations against several members and raised certain points.

Most of the points are personal. We have not suspended him so far. We are taking legal advice on this."